Tea Party for four.

Who says boys can't come to tea parties.  This is A. Merryl, U. Geoffrey, cousin Julie and Janelle sitting in the backyard of  great Nana's having a tea party.  It would have consisted of lime cordial in the milk bottle and I'm not sure what we ate, but it was good.  Of course A. Maibry was probably sitting in with the adults having a tea party with them!!!  I'm not sure what U. Geoffrey had done to his hand but he seemed to have his fingers bandaged up, or it he was ahead of his time doing a Michael Jackson!!  Anyhow, I thought it was quite cute, and the photographer was pretty good not getting a flash from A. Merryl.  

Introducing Baby Cunningham...

We went for our 19 wk scan this morning..(7:30 over at Sunnybank! Yikes!)..and got our latest photos of our little darling. Apparently he/she was a bit excited because the technician had great trouble trying to get it to sit still. When we first saw the baby, it was all curled up with it's feet right up next to it's face (that type of flexibility must be from the Cunningham side!). After a while, baby C stretched out a bit but every time we tried to get a look at the face it kept turning away and hiding behind it's hands like it is in the picture. Pete and I got sent away to have a coffee and do a jig to see if it would come out to play but it kept hiding which resulted in the tech calling it a 'naughty' baby! Bodes well!

Tech also said it had knobbly knees and elbows...also a Cunningham trait..nothing knobbly about the Walton physique!! Actually now that I think about it, Poppa, Dad and Dean have quite the knobbly knees so it could be a little Walton after all!

And no, we didn't see any bits and pieces that would give away the sex. I think we were both trying not to look but even if we were I highly doubt we would've known what we were looking at! Anyway, doc says all is healthy and baby is perfect size. Can't wait to meet you all in October!

Back from Clown Town

Well Nana and I are back from our little stay at the beach.  We spent most of the week with a huge mess over the dining room table an folding table with cards and paper everywhere.  We had lots of fun.  It was nice to be able to keep working and not worry about the mess.  It took us nearly half a day to put it all away.  The other photo is of me and a customer from work at a Big Morning Tea at the Australia Zoo today.  Terri, Bindi and Bob were there and all their entourage.  

weekend happenings

Just got back from setting up for the schools Trivia NIght tonight. Lots of fun setting up with the crew.Kimberley is off beingthe cashier for cousin Chloes Jewelly party at one of the girls from works. I had fun yesterday with my unexpected free helicopter flight to Bells Peak and back. As you can see Uncle Doug thought he'd buy a copter off E Bay and park it at the shed so he could learn to fly. It's great to spend other peoples money!!!!

sisters

another photo from the past.  I had my hand over my stomache as my button had come off my uniform and I didn't want to show my belly.  I used to love that brown and white gingham uniform.

blast from the past

Hi little Kimbo, thought you might like to see an old picture from the 70's. We were stopping for morning tea on the way to Blackbutt.  Can you pick out your mother?  Found this photo while I was taking things easy.  Talk soon, A.J.

I'ts the LITTLE COUSIN HERE

What is taking soooo........long for everybody to write a post or a comment?

Time to celebrate

Kimberley joined the thousands of school children on Friday to be part of the guiness book of records world record for the number of people skipping at the one time. Mum went along and took photos ...some parents joined in...the young fit ones! Saturday we all went out for dinner at the Casino. Doug led Chloe astray and took her in for a look.. We had a lovely dinner together for Mothers Day. As you can see the house is moving along. We are waiting for trusses at the moment. Doug is getting rather grey with the stress of trying to work the roof plans out. Happy Mothers day to all

Babyshowerthat

Hi all,
This is Chels...mum and I have been a little sneaky. We loved the ideas in the babyshower pictures that Aunty Nelly posted so much that we have decided to delete them. Anna had not yet seen them and we didn't want her too - we hope to use some of the ideas for her shower.

Sorry Aunty Nelly!!! Sorry to those of you who didn't see them!

A Grade Footballer

We had a great weekend too.  Kezza did the dawn service in town went to the RSL for breakkie and then home to bed!  Kent played his first A grade rugby game on Saturday.  Although they didn't win, it was a good game.  Can you spot him in the picture?

How could we forget

The school ANZAC day parade was a very memorable occasion. Tears in the eyes as Kimberleys essay was read out as the winner of the ANZAC day - What Anzac Day means to me competition. Kimberley marched in the parade with the school on Friday. Grand dad did up his Jeep for the Edmonton parade and drove it over here in the afternoon for "rumbles in the Jungle" ...what an adventure!!! Mitchell went to youth camp which went off really well. Tim Downes did such a great job on Sunday night with the finishing service. He has such a great gift.

Doug and I painted the beams for the carport before they are hoisted into the air and ten times more difficult to paint. The builders are back today and the rafters are now on the carport..The roofing man has been so it is all about to start again...Good to see some more news A.M.

hello everyone

It was lovely to catch up with many of you over the holiday break. Mitchell returned to school for the first day today. Kimberley, Chloe & I have been going for a week extra. Mitchell is currently working on turning a baseball bat on the lathe. Kimberley is organising Grand dads & Pas medals for her Anzac Day parade at school on Thursday and she also wants to march on Friday. Mitchell is off to youth camp at Malanda for the weekend. There are about 48 young people going. Doug and I are hoping to paint the exposed rafters on the next bit of the house. (That's if the buiders turn up!). We're trying hard to get some boundary realignments organised before the government changes the rules. We're going to end up with 3 6000m2 blocks beside us serviced by a bitumen easement. (We have to put the road and water meters in even if we don't want to use it straight away.) Beautiful weather here at the moment. Love to all. Merryl

'Morning' Sickness...what stupid man called it that?

Hello all! I have finally managed to drag my carcus off the couch and over to the computer to write about my last few weeks. Well, the last 5 and a half weeks I have slept 15 hrs a day and have lied on the couch for the other 9 trying not to throw up. That's it. No really, that's it. Ok, so I do see the sun on the weekends when Pete drags me out to stuff but I have to say that this pregnancy thing is not all it's cracked up to be!....yet! We had our first ultrasound about 4 weeks ago and it was an amazing moment...seeing that little heart beating! Yikes! That's inside me! No wonder my body has gone haywire! I would have posted the picture but it just looks like a blob to most people. We are off to have another ultrasound tomorrow where hopefully we will get a picture that resembles something a bit more human (it'll be 11 1/2 weeks) and I'll put that up for you all.

Pete is being great...he's taken charge of eliminating all gross food and bizarre smells..ok some can't be helped...for example I currently hate, HATE, the smell of soap, deoderant and perfumes/aftershave...so there's another reason for me not to go out in public too much! Phew!
Anyway, will try to keep you more updated. Lots of Love from Me and Baby Cunningham!

Stitches and Craft Sunny Coast

Howdy thought you might like to see us at the show.  What a team, especially the one in lime green.  We looked better the next day as we had some ChloJo jewellery on!!!!

Harbour Festival

So I thought it was about time that I wrote about what I did for Easter. My long weekend started on Thursday afternoon at 1pm, at school we had our Cross Country at a local Lions Park. It was planned that all the children would be picked up at 1pm for an early start to the Easter weekend. I was thankful that I told all of my parents to pick up their children between 12 and 1. This meant that all of my kids were gone at one and I could leave early!
On Good Friday, Kym and I went to check out the festival down at the Harbour. In Gladstone they have a big festival that lasts all week with rides, markets and a street parade.
Saturday we went to the Yacht Club to join in the celebrations of the arrival of all the yachts. Met a few yachties and decided they're not as good looking as I imagined, or as fancy dressed as I pictured. They were actually quite feral!
Kym had a friend from Brisbane visiting so on Sunday we did a big breakfast on the BBQ and gave presents to each other.
Monday we went down to Tannum (the local beach) and had a bbq down there. We also saw some of the competitors who enetered the kite surfing competition.

Today I am off to a new church (AOG) as I have been invited by my year 8/9 teacher. I'm then off to her house for lunch.

These are the exciting tales of my life in Gladstone. As you can imagine I'm looking forward to returning to the Sunnycoast for 2 weeks holidays!

no make that four

Third time lucky

Well it's aunty nell again.  I have just got back from the Stitches & Craft show at Kawana today.  We've had a big couple of days and fortunately I get tomorrow off to recover.  I'm going to have another go at sending some photos.  Now what photos was I going to post??  I'll have to try and remember.........

Baby Ticker - The Baby Countdown Pregnancy Ticker

Easter in the Country

A quiet weekend from this 'neck of the woods' and no photos either. Friday morning saw the 3 of us in the cattle yards checking out the newly purchased cattle. The cows needed some attention and had to be put in the crush to hold them. It was a lot of noise as the calves were bellowing for mum and mum was bellowing because she was restrained. They are now contently chewing their cud out in the paddock now. Sunday we went into Roma to church and afterwards visited the markets before having lunch with friends. The Art Show gave us our bit of 'culture' and there were a number of good paintings. Sunday night Lauren and friends headed to the Rodeo while we went to 'Cinema under the Stars' to watch a movie about Esther. After 3 Veggie Tale stories Graham had had enough and we headed home. The Esther movie didn't eventuate and they watched the 'Inn of the Sixth Happiness' (a very old version). Lauren spent most of the weekend with her nose in her books as she had a fair amount of work to catch up with and an assignment to get started.

Whoops, not real good at this!!!

Well since I had no success sending my photos last time, I thought I would have another go.  It was so nice to have 4 days off in a row over the weekend.  We enjoyed every minute of it.  Just wish we had Chloe to cook tea for us!!!!  Only 9 more sleeps till we see the Chloe and 10 more till we see Leetice.  It has been a long term.......

Easter in Brisbane

Sorry that we have not posted many updates from Murrumba Downs/Petrie for a while...our family photographer is still sick with the whole 'baby growing inside her' thing and the rest of us have become lazy at taking photos, so no-one has been documenting our fascinating lives!

This Easter has been quite eventful for the Walton's. Dean took off for the weekend up to a fancy apartment in Coolum with friends, while mum and dad got lucky as the 'Walton penthouse' was available for the weekend! This left Steve and Chels in charge of the Brisbane castle and we spent a significant part of the weekend with Pete and Anna livin' it up with friends while the parents were away.

We had a lovely 8am Friday service at Bray Park School Hall where we usually meet and then on Sunday the church met at 8am at Moora Park, Sandgate for hot breakfast, an Easter Egg hunt and playtime for the kiddies. It was such a beautiful morning gathering as a church family by the ocean. The most exciting part of the morning was not breakfast or the Easter Egg hunt, but the discovery of a wonderful new wooden playground that has every swinging and sliding thing you could dream of! The best part was, it was large enough for big kids to play too. We had the whole church running around the playground, it was memorable Easter gathering!

Other Walton Easter highlights include...'country' drives and bush walks at Mount Glorious for Steve and Chels. Stewart visits for mum and dad who were shown pictures of fresh baby Art Jackson Stewart by proud grandparents. Bush walks for mum and dad at Buderim- impressive effort! And to finish off a busy weekend for all...Anna and Peter bought a new car!!!

Easter in the far north

Greetings,

Easter started for uncle doug at 12.30am when the alarm rang. It was time to pick up Janine off the bus. At 8am the next morning we were all in church for the Easter Friday service lead by Uncle Doug. Home for Hot Cross buns with Chloe..a barracks house inspection.. then on the road for Tinaroo (minus Chloe) . She opted to go to the beach at Kewarra with Melissa, JOdye and families. Saturday Chloe came up to the Yungaburra markets (very brave considering she gets car sick) and then on to Tinaroo where we had 34 for luch. Janine and Chloe showed off their baby skills with Kylie's twins. They are getting ready for Christmas. Uncle Doug took out the prize as he managed to go to sleep with one of the babies on top of him. They are so beautiful ...alll smiles and very responsive. Peter and Lyn visited also. Sunday saw us have a lazy morning ( card making ) followed by afternoon tea at the Malanda Diary Centre and then a brisk walk around Lake Eacham. Put the boat in again this morning for some biscuiting? for Janine and Mitchell. Kimberley had an ear infection. WE've booked again for next easter if any more cousins would like to join us!!!! Highlight of the weekend was coming home exhausted to have Chloe bring us tea down (how special) Isn't family wonderful. We are so blessed!!!!

EASTER GLIMPSES

Howdy,  Just had a very quiet weekend which has been nice.  Thought you might like to see a couple of photos of our weekend. Friday we had church at the beach at  7 am.  It was a beautiful morning.

It is still raining!

No photo with this note! We are all growing web feet. The Mulgrave has been flooded for a week. Some of the staff can't make it to school, so I have had to go to school early to answer phones etc and do shifts for people who can't make it. I hope there is some time this week for easter egg shopping! We are off to Lake Tinaroo for the weekend. Donna & Russell are bringing their ski boat. Mitchell got up last time on his first go. Kimberley has an ear infection so has to keep them dry. Had a car rally for youth group on Friday night. Due to good navigating from the rear seat, The Hardwick mobile came first. Chloe is counting down till the easter break. She is going to do a bit of beading with my friend Melissa. Thats all for now. Looking forward to some news from Petrie or Murrumba Downs Love Aunty Merryl

Hi all.

I thought that I would tell you about my latest purchase. Dad's mate Bugs Bunny bought these 11 cows and 11 calves at the sale on Tuesday for Dad, and I put my hand up and said that I would buy these from him. They have come all the way from Winton, where it is still pretty dry, but are in fairly good conditon. Dad and I got them in this morning and cross branded and earmarked them all. Since this latest purchase has put a bit of a dint in my bank balance, the flying lessons will have to go on hold - so you can stop worrying for the moment, Nana.

Family Picture

Photo at Megan & Glen Kingstons wedding - thought you may like a family picture

Muckadillians Visit

Thought we'd show Uncle Graham and Aunty Maibry a bit of water

The big wet

Thought you may like a photo of chloe beside the crocodile infested river. How brave!

the Dams full

Hello everyone

Thought you might like to see a photo of our visitors today. They came right to the front door in a boat. Chloe couldn't get to White Rock as Mulgrave River Bridge was 1.5 metres under. A quick promotion to Aloomba School where she was in charge of all the students (Kimberley). All the others stayed away!

Sun is shining on the not so Sunny Coast today.

Hi All,

Well it is lovely to finally see the sun shine today.  Haven't we all had enough? Last weekend Aunty Janelle went off to a scrapbooking retreat.  We had an absolute blast.  Put lots of women together and dress them in fairy costumes and it certainly brings out the best and the worst in people.  There was a lot of D & M's which was good but there was also a lot of healthy laughs. I love getting out some of the old photos from when the cousins would all get together.  I seem to have a lot of photos of kids on bikes, trikes, go karts, etc. and they were always in matching dresses!!!!  Lots of memories. One day I'll work out how to scan the photos so you can see one on the blog. Love Aunt Nelle

Vistors from the south

Lovely to have Uncle Graham and Aunty Maibry here for a couple of days. We managed to urn the rain on for them and they got quite a good look at the Barron Falls in flood. We found time to put them on Skyrail and visit a few of the local attractions including Chloes pad. The photo is of the barracks opening when Kerry and Janelle were up.

Intentionally Homeless!

After 6 months of renovations and 4 months of keeping a "Real Estate tidy" house, our project at Bromley Close is sold!!!

Dean, Steve and I are really pleased that the painting, wall sanding, tile removing, garden planting etc is all over and our project is finished. Though it took us double the estimated amount of time I don't think we would trade any part of the experience.

The downside of completing our project is that Steven and I are now homeless...that is, homeless while living comfortably in the eastern suite of Walton's Castle, Murrumba Downs. Mum and Dad have graciously taken us in so that we may embark on a time of scrimping and saving - we all keep bouncing back to the nest, bless them!

World's Greatest Cake

Prepare to be amazed ladies! A couple of weeks ago a very special friend of Chelsea's & mine, Julie, had her baby shower. We were excited to throw her party but then discovered her sister would be doing most of the organising. We were delegated the decorations and the cake. So we decided to make them the best ever!! I got to work making little tweety birds to hang from pink coloured lanterns and Chelsea got to work on a carousel cake...thank you Women's Weekly Cakes for Kids! I helped Chels decorate the cake and it turned out just beautifully...it was the highlight of the night with lots of ooohs and aaahhs! The cake itself took about 10 hrs of labour so we have decided that it is the best cake we'll ever make and that we won't start the cycle of trying to make a better cake for every party/birthday to come! I'm sure you ladies have all done some spectacular cakes in your time (the dolly cakes are my favourite!) but thought you might like a look at ours.

Gladstone News

Well things are going well in Gladstone, it's so different teaching at a private school. The kids are all lovely though which is good. I don't have any photos of my classroom as it took to long to download, so hopefully next time. Living with Kym is going well. We went to Rocky yesterday to go shopping, I miss good shops and Rocky doesn't have them.
Well can't think of anything else to say. Will write more when something happens.
Love you all
Leetice

Far North News

THe car is still off the road... Dad phoned the general manager today...and guess what ..a courtesy car tomorrow! Am teaching/baby sitting a 2/3 class until they work out classes. eight new students today...which is enough for another big shuffle....snake handlers in the classroom for show and tell on Friday...what next? crocodiles! Busy weekend ahead...possible move of classroom.... basketball game on Saturday night...stamping party....and teaching Sunday school.. Next weekend, I'm off to a Sound of Music Party with Aunty Merryl's cronies.....then its cleaning up for Aunty Maibry's arrival.! More news soon Love Chloe

Greetings from the not so Sunny Coast

Howdy,

I am just getting used to not having the girls around the house.  They are all pretty well settled in their different places of residence.  Chloe up north and Leetice not as far north.  We visited Teece last weekend and she has lovely unit that she is sharing with another teacher from Mt Larcom.  To Teece's great enjoyment her friend has a little white fluffy dog called George.  It is rather cute.  Even Uncle Kerry was taken by it, when it jumped up on the bed in the morning to awaken him. Chloe's little house has come up really good and the picture shows Uncles Doug and Kerry putting an awning out the front for the car.  Kent is still in Japan but gets back soon.   By the looks of the photo he sent, I think it has been really cold. That's about all for now. Aunty Nelly

Lamb Chops

Went though the sheep this morning looking for flystrike because of the wet weather we've been having of late and also drafting out any lambs that missed being marked. Janine was biting the dust getting the sheep to go up the race while Lauren and Graham manhandled the rams to separate them from the ewes. Lauren and Janine's muscles got a workout lifting the oversized fat lambs up onto the fence and holding them still while Graham cut their tails off.

Came across this 'lady' and wondered if you can see what it wrong with the photo.

Chloe's report card

Thought about showing you a picture of the shelving Poppa sent but I'm too tired to take the photo and download it. Aunty Merryl is setting a very hectic pace in this incredible heat. Cousin Kimberley has taken on the role as housekeeper and has christened the mop and broom ...not to mention the toilet. Aunty Merryl finished grouting the shower this afternoon. Uncle Doug is putting wire in the gutters to stop the leaves getting in. Managed to bog the car yesterday next to the house..actually it was Leetice that was driving. Had lots of visitors (sticky beaking). Six for tea tonight. Went next door to Dougs cousins for tea last night..Paula and Kierans tomorrow night. Every one of the 50 lids on my plastic boxes managed to get broken in the shift. I will need to make an insurance claim. Went to church this morning...knew one song..longer than the 50 minutes I'm used to. Volunteered to do Sunday School teaching so I can get into the air conditioning. Peter, please take note: The childrens room is air conditioned and the church is not..how good is that! Got a clap in church this morning as a welcome..how embarrasing.

Kimberley and Mitchell on camp this week. Six days without a housekeeper! How am I going to cope? Not to worry, Mum is on her way.

Love Chloe

Renovation Rescue

Chloe and Leetice have arrived safely. Thought you would all like to have a look at the accomodation!

Oooozing athleticism!

No no, sorry to disappoint but we have not won the Adelaide International...Steve and I did however win best dressed on the weekend at our sport obsessed brother-in-law's 30th birthday party! (Check out the detail...try and find the tennis ball in the picture!)

nana's birthday

We have spent Nana's birthday at a wedding this morning. It was a beautiful day after all the rain and the surf was very big. It was one of the more casual weddings that we have been to. One of Leetice's friends. Here's a couple of shots from the wedding. Uncle Kerry was working up a sweat but I guess I was so preoccupied by the surfers, i didn't notice.

Missed you all at Christmas but had a great time in the bush. God has been good in sending so much rain out there. It is the greenest Maibry has seen in all her married life. Trying to teach Poppa how to accomplish a little house work. Great fun!!! Lauren arrived by air in the rain today and has had a practice run in her new car. Love Nana

Thank You Aunty Merryl!

Will post more soon about our Christmas but just want to say thank you aunty merryl for my lip lacquer and belt! I'm sure you'd agree it makes my lips just beautiful!!!

coastal cousins

Sorry we didn't blog yesterday. We had a lovely day. Had Leetice's friend over in the morning for breakfast and then we had lunch with just the five of us. It was kinda nice. Even managed to do the roast vegies, etc. Hard to believe, hey. We then played "Buzz" on the playstation, watched a good Christmas movie on the TV and went to Caloundra at 6 pm. Had a good night with the relatives and played buzz with 8 people. We all enjoyed our presents and missed having the rest of the family all together.
We did try Aunty Merryl to sing grace with you too, but you weren't answering. Boxing day today and it's overcast and windy so we are having another quiet one. I guess there will be some cricket to watch and a shop to visit. Lincraft has 50% off material. Off to have a cuppa.

bush christmas 2007

Lauren and her dog Tess, Janine with new pup, Bootlace.

Happy Christmas to all the cousins and others. We checked out the dams yesterday and found this one full to overflowing, approx. 3 times its normal capacity - great!!! Poppa and Lauren tried some flying but are still trying to land at Caloundra. Keep a look out for them!

Christmas morning started with everyone greeting Nana and Poppa on the bed. After our devotion time we had a quiz to sort out fact from fiction about the Christmas story and most realised they were a bit rusty on the facts. Nana did a loose version of the Christmas story using the different chocolates. A lazy day reading, eating great food, Monopoly (nana won) and using her new toy, the Cuttlebug.

Enjoy your holiday

From the bush cousins

Christmas 2007

Howdy all. Christmas on the farm was a little quiet without all the relatives. Thank you all for all the lovely presents. We went to church this mornig. I picked up a load of New Guinea nationals who are down for Christmas with their relatives. There are about 18 of them in one house! Home by 10 to put the roast in the oven. We had four guests - Peter Willison, his two sons and daughter in law ( the girl I was mother of the bride for) Doug and the kids are enjoying their Christmas present. Doug thinks it was for the kids but I think it was really for him! We all got showered in dust and the track over the sand heap is getting worn. I will miss singing grace tonight with Peter and Steven...can't wait for next year.... we'll have to sing it twice!

Hope you all had a lovely day...I'm now going to get my hair straightened by Kimberley with her new toy

Love from the Hardwicks

busy time of the year

G'day nephews & nieces,
Just thought I would wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy new year. No doubt we will see some of you on Christmas day but to the Muckadillians, hope you have a good one. Uncle Kerry and I spent 9 days with a group of 14 young people doing Christmas programs in 18 schools. It was lots of fun, but quite exhausting. Our reward was 3 days on great keppel at the end! We should have a family get together there some time, See you soon, Janelle

Our New Nephews

I thought I'd just play the bragging aunty for a sec here and introduce you all to Zach & Nate. They are 18 wks old but were born at 28 weeks so they are just now 8 pounds. (Zach was 980g and Nate was 1050g when they were born). They were in hospital for 10 weeks and in and out of intensive care. Naturally Pete's sister Bron and her husband Trev were very protective of who held them etc. because they were so susceptible to infection and the like. So here is a pic of Aunty Anna and Uncle Pete getting their first cuddles about 2 weeks ago. Oh, and they're identical! Fun hey! I'm holding Nate and Pete has Zach....I think.

Wedding Anniversary No.6

Ok - prepare to be blown out of the water ladies! Men - prepare to be put to shame!
Today is our 6th wedding anniversary! Unfortunately Pete is in Sydney at a 'Wild At Heart' men's conference with Steve...did I mention they're not allowed to have mobile phones at this conference!?! So I've spent it all on my lonesome..no, I lie..I had to work so I spent it with about 100 stressed out Christmas shoppers.

Anywaaaaays, Pete decided we should celebrate on Wednesday night since he was leaving Thursday. I got a big bunch of flowers on arriving home, I cooked his favourite dinner and then I was told I had to get ready cause we were going out! I was told we'd be doing lots of walking so wear good walking shoes and he put on jeans so I followed suit on that. We drove about a km down the road to the Petrie hall to go to...wait for it!....a ballroom dancing lesson!! I couldn't believe it!! So after I got over the romantic gesture part of it, I started freaking out that I was about to look like a real unco! We had a fantastic night with 50 new friends (all at least 20 yrs our snr), learning the quickstep, the chachacha, the rumba and the jive. Sounds impressive right!? Ok, they were extremely beginner versions of those dances and at one stage the entire circle dance was stopped so we could get some specialist attention, but wow it was fun! Next time however, I will not be wearing boho sandals and jeans...all the other ladies were wearing heeled dancing shoes and swirly, elegant skirts..the men collared shirts and shiney black dress shoes.

I am pretty sure we will be going semi-regularly next year AND we will definately be dragging along some friends and family!!

21st & 1/2 Bday party

Here is just a happy snap of my b'day party. It was good to catch up with everyone and it was fun just being able to relax (when it was all over). There was a little accident at the top of the stairs with the beetroot, however we didn't tell anyone, as Aunty Lyndal came to the rescue with more tins of beetroot.
The next photo is the siblings plus one, Olivia.
The final photo is of Suzzy, myself and Kym. I teach with these ladies and they flew down just for the party which was great.

Hardwick hello again

Whats happening? Hasn't anyone got any news?
Did you here about Janine? No room at the Inn
Tomorrow I am leading the Christmas Service at Aloomba. I am using Janines story about not finding any accomodation in Townsville (due to Elton Johns visit) as my illustration. Thanks Janine!
Christmas party here last night for 26. It seemed to take all weekend to prepare. We had a lot of fun even though it was 37 degrees all day. The kids ended up having a water bomb fight at 8.30pm to cool down! The airconditioning didn't have any effect.
Doug has grinded back the concrete at the barracks in prep for tiling. You should have seen the mess on my newly painted walls!
Mitchell has had his first day of holidays. Home alone with Dad popping in between fertiliser runs. The cane is growing at an incredible rate and so is the grass.
School christmas night Friday and church family fun night this Saturday.
Kimberley is looking foraward to all the socialising
Thats all for now
Merryl

Hardwick Hello